13 Greatest American Luxury Cars of All Time

American luxury car brands have existed since the early 1900s, and while many have gone the way of the Dodo, some are still operational.

Handcrafted, loaded with the finest materials and all the creature comforts available, at their peak, these American vehicles were just as good or even better than renowned British marques.

Let’s look at some of the greatest American luxury vehicles throughout history.

Duesenberg Model J

Duesenberg doesn’t sound very American, but the company was founded in Indianapolis in 1920 by brothers Fred and August Duesenberg. The two started out building aircraft and marine engines during WWI, and when they founded Duesenberg, they focused all their skills and knowledge on building personal luxury vehicles.

Duesenberg released the Model J in 1928 as a rival to Rolls-Royce and Hispano-Suiza. It offered customization options we’ve since come to expect from the world’s top luxury brands. Under its long hood, a 7.0-liter straight-eight engine produced around 265-hp, or closer to 400 in supercharged form.

Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster

Auburn built luxury cars from 1903 until 1937, and they’re behind some of the most gorgeous cars from that era. In 1935, Auburn introduced the Speedster with a stunning, curvaceous, and streamlined Art Deco design.

Powered by a supercharged straight-8 side-valve engine, it churned out 150-hp. Despite using a 3-speed gearbox, it could still exceed 100 mph. Although it was only a two-seater, the occupants were surrounded by the finest craftsmanship and exclusive materials.

Packard Twelve Town Car

The 1930s saw the introduction of some of the finest luxury cars known to man. Unfortunately, it was also the era of the Great Depression, and unemployment reached unprecedented levels.

During these challenging times, Packard dug its heels in and doubled down on luxury cars. From 1933 to 1939, they built the Packard Twelve Town Car, using craftsmanship and precision engineering you’ll rarely see today. It was refined and packed all the creature comforts and luxuries available at the time. Even its V12 engine was built to be as smooth and silent as possible, delivering oodles of torque in the process.

Chrysler Imperial

Chrysler knew it had to come up with something extraordinary to compete with the other luxury carmakers of the 1920s, and in 1926, the Chrysler Imperial was born. It remained the finest Chrysler model for decades and was the vehicle of choice for several VIPs, politicians, celebrities, and wealthy business owners.

As time passed, the Imperial kept growing, and every new model became increasingly opulent, jam-packed with luxuries. By 1955, Imperial became a standalone brand, and during the Malaise Era, things took a turn for the worse.

Buick Roadmaster

Buick is one of GM’s premium divisions, and the carmaker has several luxurious models under its belt, one of which is the Roadmaster. It was first introduced in the 1930s and became the brand’s flagship model after WWII, only to disappear in the late 1950s. The Roadmaster was resurrected in the 1990s as an oversized sedan and station wagon with wood paneling.

Early Roadmasters were available in multiple body styles, including a two-door convertible. By the 1940s, they had grown to become proper land yachts, measuring over 200 inches in length.

Lincoln Continental

Lincoln was founded in 1917, and when Ford acquired it in 1922, it became the Blue Oval’s luxury division. In 1939, Lincoln began producing the Continental, available in two-door coupe and convertible forms.

Production was halted during WWII, and the second-generation model was launched in 1956. It’s fair to say that the Lincoln Continental peaked in its fourth generation during the 1960s when the Secret Service used it as a Presidential state car. As good as the subsequent models were, they could never really compete with the Europeans.

Cadillac Eldorado

Cadillac is perhaps the most famous American luxury car brand. Its Eldorado model was introduced in 1952 and remained one of the brand’s top models until it was discontinued in 2002. At times, it was even considered Cadillac’s flagship model.

In 1957, Cadillac unveiled the Eldorado Brougham. It had some of the most technologically advanced features available at the time, such as self-leveling air suspension. The Brougham also offered more customization options than you could shake a stick at — including 50 leather and interior trim options. It’s no wonder that it cost more than a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud.

Lincoln Town Car

Lincoln launched the Town Car in 1980 as a competitor to Chrysler and Cadillac’s full–size sedans. For a brief period, it was also available with a two-door body.

The first-gen Town Car had some spectacular features, including a CD player, keyless entry with a keypad, six-way power front seats, and even a padded roof. The second-gen model was the longest production sedan in the States and had a digital instrument panel and a phone in the armrest.

Lincoln Navigator

SUVs have ruled the American luxury vehicle market for the last couple of decades. The Lincoln Navigator, which debuted in 1997, is generally considered as the vehicle that started the whole luxury SUV craze.

It’s easy to see why they’re so popular. These vehicles offer more space than any sedan, can pack more luxuries than a Rolls-Royce, and have plush suspension for added comfort. Today, the Lincoln Navigator is still among the best luxury SUVs on the market, and the top-of-the-range model Black Label L costs over $116,000!

Cadillac Escalade

Cadillac had to rush the first-gen Escalade to the market to compete with the Lincoln Navigator. While it was a decent attempt, it was essentially a GMC Yukon Denali playing dress-up. It wasn’t until the third generation appeared in 2007 that the Escalade truly lived up to its luxury price tag.

Now in its fifth generation, the Escalade has established itself as one of the top choices in the luxury SUV market, and any celebrity worth their salt is chauffeured in one. Its interior is now an ocean of high-end materials and creature comforts. If you want the top-trim model, expect to fork out more than $120,000.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Jeep introduced the original Wagoneer in 1963, and it’s often credited as the first SUV. The model disappeared in 1993, only to be brought back in 2022. In Grand Wagoneer form, it’s a full-blown luxury SUV, on par with the other American and European vehicles in its price range.

Prices start at over $90,000, and if you want a Grand Wagoneer L with all the options in the Series III Obsidian spec, you’ll have to hand over more than $120,000. That money gets you every luxury Jeep has ever put in a vehicle, and it’s still as off-road capable as a Jeep should be.

Lucid Air

Luxury carmakers are investing heavily in EVs, and the Lucid Air is one of the most impressive American vehicles currently on the market.

It packs an electrified punch that makes the Tesla Model S seem underpowered. Its batteries can eliminate range anxiety, and the interior is among the best in its class. Unfortunately, it also has a price tag that matches its premium features.

Cadillac Celestiq

Cadillac has also decided to jump on the EV bandwagon, and the Celestiq promises to be one of the most luxurious American vehicles we’ve seen in a long time. With a starting price of $340,000, it’s positioned as a Rolls-Royce competitor.

Obviously, with a price tag like that, Cadillac will have to deliver something spectacular. We’re expecting the same level of customization and personalization as one would expect from British luxury car brands. It’s also supposed to have 600+ hp, adaptive air suspension, and Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, so it really should be like traveling on a cloud.